Loving the Carvex

[koenbro]

I am surprised by all the criticism the Carvex gets on FOG. I just bought one a few weeks ago and used it for the first time yesterday for any length of time beyond just testing, and I must say I like it very much.
I used the Carvex first with the guide rail plate and FSG blades. I measured 34 mm from the guide rail to the kerf so I just positioned the guiderail at a 34mm offset and it cut straight and square as measured by my trusty machinist's square.
Then, I cut two discs from construction ply and the ability to fine tune the cut radius to the millimeter was just awesome. Again all cuts were square.
Finally, I played with some free curves that were, again, flawless.
All in all, very pleased with it.
FWIW my previous jigsaw is a Bosch made in Switzerland whose base plate is not flat.

 

[live4ever]

Good stuff!  I too added a Carvex (cordless) a few weeks ago.  My trusty Swiss Bosch 1590 had an...incident...and hasn't been quite as trusty since.  I've yet to put the Carvex to work but glad to hear your positive results thus far.

 

[koenbro]

Mine is corded, but if I were to do it again I would go battery powered. I almost always use it on my MFT, which is near the CT but it'll be nice every once in awhile to have the mobility.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[blaszcsj]

I agree with you on the carvex. I have had zero issues with mine and have used it extensively. Some comments on here baffle me because I have had such the opposite experience.

 

[RDMuller]

Great to see some positive Carvex comments.  I think a major problem with the machine is a lack of training.  Festool's documentation as usual is minimal (I am being kind).  Has anyone produced a really great video on its features and using it successfully?

 

[yetihunter]

Well, a good amount of the negative commentary stems from the previous 400 model (420 = Jigsaw #4 2.0). 
And the overwhelmingly majority of negative commentary comes from the trades.  They have different needs than myself.
Anyone installing cabinets will totally disagree (for reasons), but outside of that, the angle foot is the best.  The circle
cutting jig is the best.  The ergonomics are the best.  All just my opinion. 

 

[morts10n]

I've been installing cabinets for more than 30 years and I stopped using the Carvex long ago. I have 2 Trion jigsaws and went back to them.

 

[koenbro]

I've been installing cabinets for more than 30 years and I stopped using the Carvex long ago. I have 2 Trion jigsaws and went back to them.

What has been the advantage of the Trion over the Carvex in your experience?

Anyone used the Collins coping foot for the Carvex?

 

[Gregor]

the angle foot is the best.  The circle cutting jig is the best.  The ergonomics are the best. 

And the unavailability of an angle foot where the hole baseplate tilts (so it's fully available to reference on the workpiece, instead of having only 1/2 of the area as with the angle foot) is disappointing.

 

[yetihunter]

I've been installing cabinets for more than 30 years and I stopped using the Carvex long ago. I have 2 Trion jigsaws and went back to them.

What has been the advantage of the Trion over the Carvex in your experience?

Anyone used the Collins coping foot for the Carvex?

Gregor more or less answered this question.  Someone correct my terminology:  It has to do with scribing and beveling the back of the cabinet. 

 

[tony_sheehan]

Can't remember the last time I used my carvex (corded), on the rare times I use a jigsaw I always reach for my 14.4 volt makita. It's the one festool product that I regret buying.

 

[morts10n]

For most of the time I've owned the Carvex, it has been an out of adjustment, blade-rattling POS. I'll put it and both of my Trions up for sale for $25 each to help finance a good jigsaw.... the Mafell methinks

 

[yetihunter]

For most of the time I've owned the Carvex, it has been an out of adjustment, blade-rattling POS. I'll put it and both of my Trions up for sale for $25 each to help finance a good jigsaw.... the Mafell methinks

Yikes! Anyway, the P1CC is seriously a beast.  I've done cuts with fine blades with zero pendulum action that other machines would require setting 3 and a rough blade.  It's a timber framing tool, though, so I would expect that power (and with great power comes great heat).

I'm sure you know all of the good news, so I'll mention a few gripes/growing pains so that they don't catch you by surprise. 

You have to lock the foot, foots, feet, footsies beyond the point where you think you're breaking the lever/catch to secure it.  Otherwise, it will come loose and that beast will dance and then come flying at the operator.  Obviously, once the operator knows this, it is no longer an issue.

It gets EXTREMELY hot and fast.  That's the caveat of being extreme, I suppose.
The caveat of barrel grips is that your hand is meant to be precisely on the hottest point. 

The angle foot can be annoying.  It bevels one direction, so you have a 50/50 chance of putting the foot on the wrong side and then having to take it off, turn it around, and put it on again. 

Internally, the logic board is not mechanically secured.  It's supposed to be a friction fit between plastic (no screws), but it's generally floating a bit.  The speed adjustment is definitely floating, and flimsey.

It does what it's supposed to do, though. 

 

[peter halle]

For most of the time I've owned the Carvex, it has been an out of adjustment, blade-rattling POS. I'll put it and both of my Trions up for sale for $25 each to help finance a good jigsaw.... the Mafell methinks

[member=2330]morts10n[/member]  Save yourself the trouble of posting a classified.  Just send me a PM and I will buy all three of them from you for $75 plus shipping.  You can keep the systainers.

Peter

 

[koenbro]

For most of the time I've owned the Carvex, it has been an out of adjustment, blade-rattling POS. I'll put it and both of my Trions up for sale for $25 each to help finance a good jigsaw.... the Mafell methinks

[member=2330]morts10n[/member]  Save yourself the trouble of posting a classified.  Just send me a PM and I will buy all three of them from you for $75 plus shipping.  You can keep the systainers.

Peter

I will pay $30 if you throw in the Systainers.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[leakyroof]

For most of the time I've owned the Carvex, it has been an out of adjustment, blade-rattling POS. I'll put it and both of my Trions up for sale for $25 each to help finance a good jigsaw.... the Mafell methinks

Yikes! Anyway, the P1CC is seriously a beast.  I've done cuts with fine blades with zero pendulum action that other machines would require setting 3 and a rough blade.  It's a timber framing tool, though, so I would expect that power (and with great power comes great heat).

I'm sure you know all of the good news, so I'll mention a few gripes/growing pains so that they don't catch you by surprise. 

You have to lock the foot, foots, feet, footsies beyond the point where you think you're breaking the lever/catch to secure it.  Otherwise, it will come loose and that beast will dance and then come flying at the operator.  Obviously, once the operator knows this, it is no longer an issue.

It gets EXTREMELY hot and fast.  That's the caveat of being extreme, I suppose.
The caveat of barrel grips is that your hand is meant to be precisely on the hottest point. 

The angle foot can be annoying.  It bevels one direction, so you have a 50/50 chance of putting the foot on the wrong side and then having to take it off, turn it around, and put it on again. 

Internally, the logic board is not mechanically secured.  It's supposed to be a friction fit between plastic (no screws), but it's generally floating a bit.  The speed adjustment is definitely floating, and flimsey.

It does what it's supposed to do, though.

  Thanks for the Real World Feedback on the Mafell.  Those 'interesting' caveats don't come up in the You Tube videos or articles I've seen on the P1cc Jig Saw, so as always, we 'ask the person' who owns one.... [cool] [cool] [cool] [cool] [cool]

 

[TXFIVEO]

I have the Mafell jigsaw. While it is a nice saw, it’s nowhere near worth twice the price of the my Carvex.  Not to me anyways.   

 

[ScotF]

For most of the time I've owned the Carvex, it has been an out of adjustment, blade-rattling POS. I'll put it and both of my Trions up for sale for $25 each to help finance a good jigsaw.... the Mafell methinks

Yikes! Anyway, the P1CC is seriously a beast.  I've done cuts with fine blades with zero pendulum action that other machines would require setting 3 and a rough blade.  It's a timber framing tool, though, so I would expect that power (and with great power comes great heat).

I'm sure you know all of the good news, so I'll mention a few gripes/growing pains so that they don't catch you by surprise. 

You have to lock the foot, foots, feet, footsies beyond the point where you think you're breaking the lever/catch to secure it.  Otherwise, it will come loose and that beast will dance and then come flying at the operator.  Obviously, once the operator knows this, it is no longer an issue.

It gets EXTREMELY hot and fast.  That's the caveat of being extreme, I suppose.
The caveat of barrel grips is that your hand is meant to be precisely on the hottest point. 

The angle foot can be annoying.  It bevels one direction, so you have a 50/50 chance of putting the foot on the wrong side and then having to take it off, turn it around, and put it on again. 

Internally, the logic board is not mechanically secured.  It's supposed to be a friction fit between plastic (no screws), but it's generally floating a bit.  The speed adjustment is definitely floating, and flimsey.

It does what it's supposed to do, though.

  Thanks for the Real World Feedback on the Mafell.  Those 'interesting' caveats don't come up in the You Tube videos or articles I've seen on the P1cc Jig Saw, so as always, we 'ask the person' who owns one.... [cool] [cool] [cool] [cool] [cool]

I have not experienced the same issues - mine does not get too hot - no different than other barrel grip saws. I have not noticed the other issues either. But, my first P1CC did break - the main bearing on the plunge mechanism broke under warranty and I had to get a new machine - so even the super pricey Mafell has lemon tools.

 

[yetihunter]

Yah, I think I'm gonna go ahead and cause a rip in internet wisdom's time-warp-continuum by dropping the bombshell that the Mafell tracksaw isn't actually any better built than nor better finished than the TS55 while I'm at it.  :0

I'm sure that [member=2330]morts10n[/member] has either legitimate criticsms or possibly legitimate issues, however.    I've sent my fair share of of brand new Festool tools in for repair before having a chance to plug them in.  So, either it's a lemon or it's the already discussed criticisms that just won't fly.

I mentioned in another thread about recently buying a Metabo drill (the Mafell drills are built upon a Metabo model, fyi) for it's beastly torque.  At the end of the day: it ain't a sweetastic T18.  At the following morning: even the PDC is only pushing 500 inch lbs in a 100 foot lb world. 

Different choices for different needs.

 

[Cheese]

I own the P1 cc and don’t have any of the issues that yeti postulates. The only thing I don’t know about is the errant circuit board that floats within the Mafell. That may be so, I don’t know otherwise.

I’ve cut 1/2” thick aluminum plate in 85-90 degree temperatures and the jig saw body never got hot.

If you want to secure the foot you simply press the lever until it stops moving, foot secured.

Knowing when to angle something in what direction is just a natural consequence of working with tools. How many times have you aligned your chop saw in the wrong direction? How many times have you set the blade of your circ saw at the wrong angle? How many times have you placed the Festool rail on the wrong side of the cut and reduced the width of the board by 2.2 mm?

It’s all called operator error.